Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship as Cultural Capability: Local Wisdom, Gender Agency, and Economic Empowerment among Dani Women in Papua Highlands

Abstract

Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a pathway toward inclusive and sustainable development; however, existing studies often treat local wisdom merely as cultural background rather than as a constitutive mechanism shaping entrepreneurial agency and economic empowerment. This study examines how Dani women’s entrepreneurship in Wamena, Papua Highlands, operates through indigenous knowledge systems and contributes to women’s economic empowerment within a socio-cultural context. Using a qualitative approach grounded in in-depth interviews, participant observation, and thematic analysis, the research explores how traditional values, collective practices, and gendered roles influence entrepreneurial activities. The findings reveal that local wisdom functions not only as a cultural identity marker but also as a strategic resource that strengthens resilience, social legitimacy, and economic participation among Dani women. Nevertheless, structural barriers—including limited access to capital, education, and markets—continue to constrain the scaling of indigenous entrepreneurship. The study contributes theoretically by repositioning indigenous entrepreneurship as an alternative development pathway rooted in relational agency and cultural continuity, extending current discussions on gender, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. Practically, the findings suggest the need for culturally responsive empowerment policies that integrate indigenous governance structures, gender-sensitive economic programs, and locally grounded innovation strategies.